Ingle will never fight again

That is the message from his trainer, Steve Pollard, who has been at the Yorkshire Hunter's bedside every day since he underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain.

Ingle sustained the life-threatening injury when losing his International Boxing Federation title to Mbulelo Botile at Sheffield Arena on December 16, and has been in intensive care at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital ever since.

Pollard is confident the 28-year-old will make a full recovery, but is adamant he will never step into the ring again. "He's been a fighter for plenty of years and if anyone can pull through he can," said Pollard. "But whatever happens he won't box again. I won't let him."

Ingle has continued to make giant strides in his recovery - literally. He has walked for the first time since undergoing the operation, albeit with help from nurses, and doctors have been able to reduce his levels of intensive care

He remains in a stable condition but has also been sitting up in bed, talking clearly and eating and breathing without support.

A spokesman for the hospital said they were hopeful of moving him into a normal ward in the next few days, with a view to transferring him to a hospital nearer his Scarborough home later this month.

Pollard added: "He's still confused and does not know why he's in hospital but he's talking very well and can understand things clearly. His progress is excellent."

In the wake of Ingle's injury former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan has urged the British Boxing Board of Control to closely monitor the weights of fighters in the build-up to bouts to help prevent serious brain injuries.

McGuigan, who held the World Boxing Association crown in 1986, feels regular checks would discourage individuals from taking on fights when they know they cannot reach the regulation weight in time for the contest.

The Irish boxer's comments come ahead of today's meeting of British Boxing Board of Control stewards in London to study reports into the injury suffered by the Scarborough fighter.

Ingle's trainer agreed there could be a link between rapid weight loss and brain injuries.

"The boxers getting injured are those having to make weights. It's not happening to heavyweights."

But he did not believe Ingle was affected this way. "If it had a direct effect it was not evident. At the end of the day it was a hard fight and unfortunately these things can happen," he said.

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, January 10, 2001